Luigino's already produces more than 200 varieties of frozen dinners and snacks under the name Michelina's. The company has an administrative office in Sanford that employs about 20 people but no production facilities in Florida, spokesman Jim Tills said.

Tills said the Budget Gourmet lines are similar to Michelina's but both would be continued. He said Michelina's had 13 percent of the U.S. frozen-entree market last year, with $350 million in sales. He would not disclose the privately held company's profit. Budget Gourmet had an 11 percent market share, Tills said.

As for why Luigino's bought a line of products so similar to its own, Tills said: "To make money."

Heinz will produce the Budget Gourmet products under contract from Luigino's indefinitely, Tills said. However, Luigino's plans to take over production eventually at its facilities in Ohio or Minnesota, he said.

Heinz said it sold the Budget Gourmet product line because it did not offer the growth potential of some of its other frozen-dinner lines, most notably its Boston Market entrees, which have grown to $100 million in sales in their first year.